If you need help putting together and writing a 2023 Primary presentation script and outline, you have come to the right place! Below is a simple format that follows Music for Singing Time 2023 Come Follow Me – New Testament that any Primary can implement for their sacrament meeting Primary presentation!
Use this outline to create a customized Primary program presentation that will fit your Primary’s needs.
My Primary has roughly 25-30 kids so we have enough time for each child to speak a small part at the pulpit (2 sentences or less). We like to sing the first verse to hymns then have the congregation join in on the rest of the verses. Then we sing all the verses to all the other Primary songs we’ve learned throughout the year.
Help with Words
We learn the songs in singing time throughout the year with the goal to have words memorized. But come program day, I always post the words. I prefer this method over creating little books for everyone to hold. I feel they end up becoming a distraction throughout the program.
Sometimes we have kids show up who rarely come to Primary throughout the year. Posting words helps them not feel so left in the dark when it’s time to sing. It also gives kids a boost who are shy and may forget the words once they are up singing.
A final perk about posting the words is I get almost every reading child’s eyes on me when we sing!
So check out how I post the words HERE. And how I slightly modify it for the program HERE.
How to Write a Primary Program
This Primary program outline revolves around the songs we learned this year for the presentation. These are the same songs my presidency and I decided to teach in singing time HERE. I began drafting this outline by writing down all our Primary songs we’ve learned for the program.
2023 Primary Songs
We’ve been learning The Books in the New Testament all year long so we will open our sacrament meeting presentation with this song. Then these are the 8 songs we learned each month this year for the program:
- The Miracle by Shawna Edwards
- I Will Follow God’s Plan p. 164
- Did You Think to Pray? hymn # 140
- Faith p. 96
- Called to Serve p. 174
- Behold the Great Redeemer Die hymn #191
- I’ll Walk with You p. 140
- The Lord Gave Me a Temple p. 153
New Testament Scriptures
With my list of songs, I then add a scripture from the New Testament to coincide.
- The Miracle by Shawna Edwards – John 3:16-17
- I Will Follow God’s Plan p. 164 -Matthew 4:19
- Did You Think to Pray? hymn # 140 – Mark 11:24-25
- Faith p. 96 – Matthew 17:20
- Called to Serve p. 174 – JS Matthew 1:31
- Behold the Great Redeemer Die hymn #191 – Luke 22:42
- I’ll Walk with You p. 140 – John 13:15
- The Lord Gave Me a Temple p. 153 – 1 Corinthians 6: 19-20
The scriptures may or may not be read in sacrament meeting (depending on time, etc.). They can be read by a 2nd teacher of each class, or by the same teacher, or not at all. If you have an older Primary child, they can also read all the scriptures. Lots of options! But they are mainly to help families write talks using help from the scriptures.
Class Parts
I then created a statement to be answered by the Primary children that coincides with each Primary song. Each class was then assigned a statement that I thought would be the most age appropriate.
- “My favorite miracle performed by Jesus found in the New Testament is________ because…” (9 year olds)
- “I will follow God’s plan by…” (7 year olds)
- “Saying my prayers and talking to Heavenly Father helps me by…” (4 year olds)
- “Because of my faith, I know that…” (6 year olds)
- “I can share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ by…” (8 year olds)
- “Because of Jesus Christ’s atonement, I can…” (10/11 year olds)
- “I can show love to everyone, just as Jesus did by…” (Sunbeams)
- “I can treat my body like the temple by…” (5 year olds)
Summaries
Then I wrote a quick summary for each song. The teachers of each class will be reading these summaries before they help their class with their parts at the microphone:
The miraculous acts of Jesus Christ caused the early disciples to exclaim: “What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.”
Miracles, signs, and wonders abound among followers of Jesus Christ today, in your lives and in mine.
His Atonement, culminating with His Resurrection after three days in a borrowed tomb, stands as the greatest miracle in human history.” Find the reference HERE.
Those who followed Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ were permitted to come to the earth to experience mortality and progress toward eternal life.
Because of this plan, we can be perfected through the Atonement, receive a fulness of joy, and live forever in the presence of God. Our family relationships can last throughout the eternities. Find the references HERE.
Elder Bruce D. Porter stated, “I am deeply thankful for the gift of prayer, which is surely among the greatest of gifts given by our Father in Heaven to His children on earth. Prayer is the ordained means by which men and women, and even little children, come to know God. It is our channel of communication with heaven. It is a priceless privilege.” Find the reference HERE.
It is important that we learn to love each other. It is the second great commandment. Heavenly Father wants us to love every one of his children, just as he wants us to love each member of our own families. We can show love by helping others understand their eternal worth to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Find the reference HERE.
Although faith is a gift, it must be cultured and sought after until it grows from a tiny seed to a great tree … Where there is true faith there are miracles, visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of God that He gives to His saints. Find the reference HERE.
One sign that Jesus will return soon is that His gospel is being preached throughout the world. We can help fulfill this prophecy by sharing the gospel. Find the reference HERE.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, “To follow Christ … is to learn from His character. As spirit children of our Heavenly Father, we do have the potential to incorporate Christlike attributes into our life and character. The Savior invites us to learn His gospel by living His teachings. To follow Him is to apply correct principles and then witness for ourselves the blessings that follow.” Find the reference HERE.
Your body is an amazing gift from your Heavenly Father. He gave it to you to help you become more like Him. Having a body gives you increased power to exercise your freedom to choose. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ can help you see your body from God’s perspective. And that makes a big difference in your choices about what to do with your body and how to care for it. Find the reference HERE.
Once I put everything in order, that became the premise to my outline!
How To Edit
This outline is available in my Resource Library for you to save, then edit as a Google Docs document. IMPORTANT: You will not be able to edit until you go to “file” and “make a copy.” Once saved on your own file system, you can edit it.
Please do not “Request Access to Edit” (the blue button at the top). If I give access to everyone, the version I originally created would be different each time someone else opens the document.
Access these printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing the Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Program Parts
Once the outline is written, next comes assigning parts. So I created these pages (there are 8 different pages for each part):
Access these printables at my Resource Library. Instructions for accessing the Resource Library are found at the bottom of this post.
Again, these files are saved as Google Docs so make a copy so you can edit your own. Please do not “Request Access to Edit” (the blue button at the top).
Cut them in half and pass them out to teachers to give to parents (or have the presidency do it – but I like to involve teachers!). To be returned either the following Sunday, or have families take a picture of it and text it back to teachers or a member of the Primary presidency.
Once all the parts are received, insert them into your outline. Voila! Program finished!
Summaries, Scriptures and Talks for all Suggested Primary Songs
Did you choose a suggested Primary that’s not on the list above? I have an ADDITIONAL Primary program outline that incorporates the 3 Suggested Music for Singing Time songs from January – August (24 songs, scriptures & talks total!).
These additional summaries, scriptures and talks for all suggested Primary songs from January – August are available for Singing Time To-Go PREMIUM subscribers!
Login to your subscription to access it on the PREMIUM Dashboard. Find out how to join Singing Time To-Go here:
Purchase Additional Songs & Parts in the Shop
You can also purchase the additional songs and parts in my shop:
Questions and Answers regarding the Primary Program
When should the Primary presentation be scheduled?
- The directive for the Primary presentation is to be at the end of the year (find more details HERE)
- Work with your Primary presidency and bishopric to schedule a date for the presentation
What do I do if I have a big Primary?
- Have each child pass a microphone down the line so they don’t have to take time getting up to the pulpit
- Have everyone give one-word answers
- Break up your program into 2 or even 3 different programs given on different Sundays
- Cut back on the amount of songs/verses you sing
- Assign some children singing parts and others speaking parts
What do I do if I have a small Primary?
- Give children multiple speaking parts
- Involve families to contribute talks and to help singing
- Invite teachers and the Primary presidency to speak and sing
- Give the opportunity for children to sing solos or duets
- Only fill a portion of the meeting
- See the Church handbook HERE under 12.2.1.2:
The presentation may take all or part of the meeting time after the sacrament. Units with few children may invite children’s family members to participate.
How to involve Primary children who don’t want to participate?
- Never force children to participate
- Give opportunities for children to practice standing at the pulpit, using the microphone and singing in the chapel
- Offer a small reward after the presentation is over
Questions about your Primary Presentation Outline
What other questions do you have? Leave a comment and I’ll try to answer them here!
If you see any typos or errors, PLEASE let me know! This project was a HUGE undertaking and I’m definitely prone to mistakes!
Don’t be afraid to discuss options and ideas with your bishopric Primary presidency or stake Primary presidency.
Go to the Source
To find more help with Primary presentations, brush up on what the Church handbook states HERE. Scroll down to 12.2.1.2 where it states:
… The annual children’s sacrament meeting presentation is held during the last few months of the year. The children present what they have learned at home and at church during the year. They help the congregation focus on Heavenly Father, the Savior, and Their teachings.
The Primary presidency and music leader prayerfully plan the presentation. The bishopric gives direction. Children may sing, give talks, and share stories, scriptures, or testimonies.
The presentation may take all or part of the meeting time after the sacrament. Units with few children may invite children’s family members to participate.
Because of the sacredness of sacrament meeting, the presentation should not include visuals, costumes, or media presentations.
For more Primary presentation tips, tricks and helps, scroll through my posts HERE.
Check out this quick tutorial video for accessing the Resource Library:
These printables are filed on my Resource Library page under Category Title > Primary Program Script/Outline > 2023.
